In my previous post, I wrote about the release of Windows 8 Developer Preview and mentioned that I’m downloading the ISO. Now, I have successfully installed Windows 8 Developer Preview on my computer using Virtualbox. Why Virtualbox? Sure, there are plenty other choices such as VMware or VirtualPC but a lot of reports of failed installation on those virtual machine software. Since I’m more familiar with Virtualbox, let’s just go with it.
Oh, before getting into the installation process, please make sure your computer supports Hardware Virtualization and if you do, just make sure you turn enable it via BIOS. This installation of mine was carried out on a 2.9GHz AMD Athlon II X4 635 running Windows 7 64bit using Virtualbox version 4.0.12 r72916.
Assuming you already have your copy of Windows 8 Developer Preview ISO with you and have already installed Virtualbox on your computer, I now will show you how to use Virtualbox to install your Windows 8 Developer Preview.
1. Start Virtualbox and click on the “NEW” button and then click on next.
2.Give a name for your virtual machine. I called mine “Windows 8 DP”. Choose “Windows 7” if you’re using 32bit system or “Windows 7 64” if you’re using 64bit system.
3. Next, allocate the memory for your Windows 8 VM. Normally 1GB should be enough for 32bit system but if you’re installing a 64bit version, 2GB should be the minimum.
4. You now required to create a Virtual Hard Disk. You can choose either to use dynamic storage which means it grow bigger with time or fixed storage which means it will not exceed the limit you set here. Since this is only a preview and I don’t really recommend using it in live production just yet, leave on default (20GB).
You will then be showed a Summary page. Check the settings and if you’re satisfied then click on Create to begin create your VM.
5. Now that you have your Windows 8 VM, you will need to change a few settings before you can fire it up.
5.1. Choose System tab on the left panel and click on Processor tab. Make sure you tick on Enable PAE/NX.
5.2. Still in System tab, click on Acceleration tab, both Enable VT-x/AMD-V and Enable Nested Paging should be selected.
5.3. Choose Storage tab on the left and click on Empty under IDE Controller. You will see a CD icon next to CD/DVD Drive selection box, click the icon and Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file. Select the Windows 8 Developer Preview iso and then click OK.
6. There you have it. A fully working Windows 8 Developer Preview on Virtualbox. You can now start your virtual machine and run the installation. I won’t be covering the installation process however I will share with you a few screen shots of my installation (click for bigger picture).
To be honest, this release seems to be working just fine, it just that I hope to see it polished a bit more as right now it felt like the whole thing are just a “cosmetic” layers on top of Windows 7.
So, how about you? Have you installed Windows 8 on your system? What do you think of it and how is your experience? I would love to hear your story of experience installing Windows 8 Developer Preview on your system. You can share it in the comment section below.
if you want to install it using the USb flash drive chack out here http://www.techken.in/windows-tips/install-windows-8-usb-flash-drive/
@macha, quite glad you made it back here.. Although you quite mistaken there a bit about Windows 85, unless it was a top secret Microsoft project, I never heard of it, maybe you meant to say Windows 95? *chuckles*. You quite right, Vista was the worst OS Microsoft ever produced, thankfully, they’re finally aware and put on Windows 7 in production as the replacement and it works. Windows 7 by far is the most successful Windows OS ever as it has the stability of WinXP and the beautiful GUI as Vista, even better. As far as naming goes, they can call it whatever they want really, I don’t care as long as it works. So, this issue you have with naming convention of Windows might be just a fetish you had with Microsoft hahaha..but seriously, don’t worry much about the naming, take Google for an example, they named their first Android OS like Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Frodo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and guess what will their next version be named?
So, to answer your worries, don’t be afraid of upgrading your fossil PC to at least Windows 7. You won’t regret it as it is as stable as your precious WinXP and yes, it is backward compatible if by chance you want to run older program which was meant for older Windows version (XP). Wait, what? You’re running out of IP addresses? lol..unlikely. You see, it is true that the world are in the brink of using up all IPv4 address thus everyone is now in the hype of using IPv6 but as far as I know, there are a lot of things that need to be done before you can use IPv6 as it is not as easy as plug and play, but don’t worry, you’ll be okay with just IPv4 in Malaysia for quite a long time.
Err, upgrading to Windows 8, I won’t recommend it just yet just because Microsoft haven’t yet put them in store shelves. Wait until it comes out of Beta. Buy me one as a gift if you may
wow windows 8 ..
i am using wind 7 but will try win 8 sooon
This is really helpful…I wonder if I can share this to my friends too…
Hello Friend,
I must admit I’m not as computer savvvy as many of today’s youngsters. So I just wouldn’t understand the reason for the pace at which the windows OS is evolving. I remember the days when DOS was the ‘top cat’ (now you get an idea of why I’m referring to ‘today’s youngsters’?), and have faithfully followed Microsoft through the initial windows, was it windows 3.11? and Windows 85, Millinium, 2000 and XP (have I got it the right order?). I’m afraid my foreys into Vista left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak. After which, what have they got? Windows 7 (Hey!! what about Windows 6? and 5? and the rest!!), and now……….. Windows 8! I’ll bet it won’t be long before there’s Windows 9 or maybe they’ll call it Windows Pluto just to throw the unwary offtrack.
I have got as far as Windows XP and am afraid I’ve sort of been stuck there, and so missed all the fun of the other later Windowses. I’ve been told that Windows 7 sorts out the issue of us running out of IP addresses. OK, so it’s done that. Would somone please tell me what else I’m missing by not upgrading to Windows 7 or now 8?
Macha, quite glad you made it back here.. 😉
Although you quite mistaken there a bit about Windows 85, unless it was a top secret Microsoft project, I never heard of it, maybe you meant to say Windows 95? *chuckles*.
You quite right, Vista was the worst OS Microsoft ever produced, thankfully, they’re finally aware and put on Windows 7 in production as the replacement and it works. Windows 7 by far is the most successful Windows OS ever as it has the stability of WinXP and the beautiful GUI as Vista, even better. As far as naming goes, they can call it whatever they want really, I don’t care as long as it works. So, this issue you have with naming convention of Windows might be just a fetish you had with Microsoft hahaha..but seriously, don’t worry much about the naming, take Google for an example, they named their first Android OS like Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Frodo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and guess what will their next version be named?
So, to answer your worries, don’t be afraid of upgrading your fossil PC to at least Windows 7. You won’t regret it as it is as stable as your precious WinXP and yes, it is backward compatible if by chance you want to run older program which was meant for older Windows version (XP). Wait, what? You’re running out of IP addresses? lol..unlikely. You see, it is true that the world are in the brink of using up all IPv4 address thus everyone is now in the hype of using IPv6 but as far as I know, there are a lot of things that need to be done before you can use IPv6 as it is not as easy as plug and play, but don’t worry, you’ll be okay with just IPv4 in Malaysia for quite a long time.
Err, upgrading to Windows 8, I won’t recommend it just yet just because Microsoft haven’t yet put them in store shelves. Wait until it comes out of Beta. Buy me one as a gift if you may 🙂
I think windows 8 is better than windows 7…Thanks for sharing..
I’m happy in using Window 7, But i look forward to use also this Window 8.
I would not recommend for anyone to be using it as your primary daily OS but rather just experience the build.
I am used to using Windows 7… Maybe I might want the Windows 8 when it is out.. There will surely some features there that windows 7 don’t have… Thank you for the tutorial.
@fergusonsarah If you follow the guide, I’m sure you will be able to try the preview build. Quite interesting to be honest but still it will need some time to get used to the new UI. Oh, XP is good but Windows 7 is better.
@Charlotte74 Well, to be honest this is only a preview and the final build won’t hit the shelf until next year.
I still love using Windows XP rather than using Windows 7, but I want to try Windows 8 before judging.
No windows 8 yet. I’m always a bit cautious and wait a few months in case there are issues/bugs that need to be sorted.
I got it to installed without any problems in VIrtutalbox but have the same problem with guest additions not installing on both 32 and 64 bit. I tried pulling the drivers out of the additions install file and when I installed the video driver the resolution changed but then I lost my keyboard. The mouse was fine and Windows wasn’t locked. I don’t know how these are related but I got to do my first system restore in Windows 8.
http://www.hypervhd.com
Has anybody else tries extracting the drivers and did you get it to work?
I got it to installed without any problems in VIrtutalbox but have the same problem with guest additions not installing on both 32 and 64 bit. I tried pulling the drivers out of the additions install file and when I installed the video driver the resolution changed but then I lost my keyboard. The mouse was fine and Windows wasn’t locked. I don’t know how these are related but I got to do my first system restore in Windows 8.
http://www.hypervhd.com
Has anybody else tries extracting the drivers and did you get it to work?
@Ragnarok Glad you like it.
This is a great guide. I was wondering how I can install windows 8 using virtual box. With the screenshots you provided this will be a piece of cake for a newbie like myself. Thanks so much!